Dublin Zoo is to open tomorrow, and hill-walking, pony trekking and angling can resume from May 11th, it was announced yesterday. As the Government further eased foot-and-mouth restrictions, the opening of visitor centres such as Glendalough in Co Wicklow and Muckross House and Ross Castle in Killarney was also announced, much to the relief of tourist interests.
The news was welcomed by Bord Failte, the Irish Hotels Federation, angling groups and the Mountaineering Council of Ireland.
Bord Failte said: "The hill-walking, angling and equestrian sectors of tourism have been badly affected by the restrictions to date".
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, said May 11th would also see the opening of Glenveagh National Park Visitor Centre, Co Donegal; Connemara National Park Visitor Centre, Co Galway; the Hill of Tara, Co Meath; Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Co Sligo; and Doneraile Wildlife Park, Co Cork.
However, there was dismay among farmers that restrictions on the movement of animals will remain in force for the time being. One farm leader last night questioned the logic of allowing hill-walkers back on Irish mountains from May 11th while farmers were banned from moving animals from farm to farm.
Mr Charlie Reilly, president of the Irish Cattle Traders' and Stockowners' Association, was responding to the easing of restrictions on hill-walking, pony-trekking and angling while tight controls remained on animal movements.
"I am not a vet, but as a farmer I have difficulty in understanding how hill-walking can go ahead and farm-to-farm movement cannot," he said.
Mr Reilly was mirroring the general disappointment in farming circles to the Minister's failure to lift tight controls on trading while many sporting and recreational activities will be allowed from May 11th, subject to proper procedures.
Yesterday, 41 days after the Proleek outbreak of the disease, the Minister had only relaxed the regulations on the movement of breeding bulls, movement between fragmented holdings and, from May 9th, the movement of cattle from feed lots to their home farms, all on permit.
The farm organisations will meet Mr Walsh later this week to plead for an easing of the restrictions on cattle movement.